Gómez back at Rays' camp competing for 'pen spot after Classic appearance

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- The magnitude of the moment set in for Yoendrys Gómez last Saturday, when the Venezuelan team lined up at loanDepot park before taking on Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

There stood Gómez, alongside his countrymen, listening to the Venezuelan national anthem with pride.

“I kind of had a little moment of, 'Whoa, I'm here,'” Gómez said Wednesday through interpreter Kevin Vera.

Gómez watched two games with the team before making his lone appearance of the WBC on Monday, when he pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and earned the win in Venezuela’s 4-0 win over Nicaragua in Miami.

The Venezuelan team already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, but Gómez will not play any further. He has returned to Rays’ camp, where the out-of-options righty is competing for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

Leaving was not easy, he admitted, describing the entire experience of representing his country as “a dream come true.”

“I want to be out there representing my country and wanted to do more, but obviously I have a job to do here and I want to make the team here,” Gómez said. “Very thankful for the Rays for giving me even the open window to go out and pitch for my nation. … Just super grateful for everything.”

Gómez is scheduled to pitch against the Red Sox on Friday after Opening Day starter Drew Rasmussen. His best chance to make the Major League team is as a multi-inning reliever, although the Rays have a handful of options to consider in Mason Englert, Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour, among others.

“He's competing for a spot here, and we kind of want to see that two-inning role with him filling up the strike zone, because we do like his stuff,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I'm glad he's back here. I think you certainly want to represent your country. He did that. Now, he's trying to compete for a spot with us.”

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Spring roster moves
The Rays trimmed five players from their Spring Training roster on Wednesday. Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr., right-hander Jesse Scholtens and lefty reliever Joe Rock were optioned to Minor League camp, and non-roster right-handers Kodi Whitley and Andrew Wantz were reassigned to Minor League camp.

Scholtens will be built up to start with Triple-A Durham, which puts him in position to serve as rotation or long-relief depth for Tampa Bay this season. The Rays have shortened up Rock, making the 6-foot-6 lefty a single-inning reliever.

Mesa’s spring debut was delayed until Sunday due to a left hamstring injury, but he quickly made a positive impression on the coaching staff.

“He really glides in the outfield. He's got some pop in his bat, plays with a lot of energy, really presented well in the clubhouse with the guys,” Cash said. “Time for him to just go to Durham, get reps at all three [outfield spots].”

There are now 52 players remaining on the Rays’ Spring Training roster.

Camp notes
• Center fielder Cedric Mullins made a spectacular diving catch behind reliever Bryan Baker to record the first out of the bottom of the fifth inning in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Braves.

“I felt good on that play,” said Mullins, who also had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. “I want to play hard. Just really want to get a feel for being in season mode with the intensity, and that's how I play. I want to play with everything I've got.”

• Infielder Ben Williamson went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, which came off his bat at 104.9 mph and traveled a Statcast-projected 425 feet. It was Williamson’s second homer of the spring, one more than he hit in 85 games with Seattle last season.

“It makes sense, because you look at him -- he's a big, strong kid,” Cash said. “You know there's a little bit more power than maybe what I anticipated.”

• Starter Nick Martinez needed 66 pitches (40 strikes) to work three-plus innings, as he exited after issuing a 10-pitch leadoff walk in the fourth. Martinez walked three but permitted just one hit (a Matt Olson homer) and struck out five of the 13 batters he faced.

“Probably not as efficient as I'd like, or I am normally, but still pounding the zone,” Martinez said.

• Right-handers Ryan Pepiot and Hunter Bigge faced hitters in live batting practice Wednesday morning at Charlotte Sports Park. Pepiot pitched four innings.

• Thursday marks two important milestones in Rays’ camp: two weeks until their opening game and their first off-day of Spring Training. The club will return to action against the Red Sox on Friday, when Yandy Díaz (left hand) and Richie Palacios (back) are expected to be in the lineup.